No doubt Dave Barry himself would be pleased Barry Obama decided to play along and announce a spectacular tax plan on Sept. 19, of all dates. But so far, the only person who seems to have caught the irony is Republican Rep. Dennis Ross of Florida who today suggested maybe the president doesn’t quite understand the holiday, even though it looks as though he’s captured the spirit of it.

“Perhaps the Pres misunderstood,” Ross tweeted. “It is TALK like a pirate day…not ACT like one. Watch ye purses & bury yr loot, the taxman cometh.” Then, just to be sure followers knew he meant it good-naturedly, he added the hashtag #humor.

Ross’ comment comes across as light-hearted and funny to me, but, just to be clear, neither Ross nor I are accusing the president of actual piracy. That would be in very poor form because, as the founders of this national holiday put it, “Pirates were and are bad people. Really reprehensible. Even the most casual exploration of the history of pirates … leaves you hip deep in blood and barbarity. We recognize this, all right? We aren’t for one minute suggesting that real, honest-to-God pirates were in any way, shape or form worth emulating.” Similarly, I’m not for one minute suggesting that the president has kept pace with piratical plundering. His proposals might be reprehensible, but they’re neither violent nor illegal. Just redistributive on a grand scale.

Mostly, I’m just wishing the president would have thrown a few pirate phrases into his deficit reduction speech. It sure would have been more enjoyable to listen to.

Instead, viewers had to watch Obama say brazenly, “This is not class warfare,” and try not to snort with scorn and derision nor to cry from sheer frustration. This is not class warfare? Note that, in all his talk of the rich needing to “pay their fair share,” the president never once mentioned the 46 percent of Americans who pay no income tax at all. If this is not class warfare, then Sept. 19 is not Talk Like a Pirate Day, after all — and then won’t Mark and John be devastated?

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Ross’ comment comes across as light-hearted and funny to me, but, just to be clear, neither Ross nor I are accusing the president of actual piracy. That would be in very poor form because, as the founders of this national holiday put it, “Pirates were and are bad people. Really reprehensible. Even the most casual exploration of the history of pirates … leaves you hip deep in blood and barbarity. We recognize this, all right? We aren’t for one minute suggesting that real, honest-to-God pirates were in any way, shape or form worth emulating.” Similarly, I’m not for one minute suggesting that the president has kept pace with piratical plundering. His proposals might be reprehensible, but they’re neither violent nor illegal. Just redistributive on a grand scale.

Why do you people go out of your way to do this? If people can’t get the joke (on talk like a pirate day), that’s their problem.

I would go one step further and correct Miss Tina. Obama is a very bad person and is reprehensible. Look at his actions and tell me he means well. Hugo Chavez is his alter ego and he just can’t figure out a way to make it work in the US—-but the mofo is certainly trying hard.

Shiver me timbers but if’n that long-shanked landlubber of a CIC were a pirate for true the rest o’ th’ crew would be for handin’ him the black spot fer hornswaggling us all. His next landin’ wouldn’t be Bali. He’d be touring Davy Jone’s Locker.

“Pirates were and are bad people. Really reprehensible. Even the most casual exploration of the history of pirates … leaves you hip deep in blood and barbarity. We recognize this, all right? We aren’t for one minute suggesting that real, honest-to-God pirates were in any way, shape or form worth emulating.”

Key West Reader:Talk about a slam on Obama,from the Hippity
Hippity Hop,African Americans,btw,I posted the
linky,on another thread!:)
=============================================
In honour of Obama’s policies,theres a new song out,on Drudge,

“Pirates were and are bad people. Really reprehensible. Even the most casual exploration of the history of pirates … leaves you hip deep in blood and barbarity. We recognize this, all right? We aren’t for one minute suggesting that real, honest-to-God pirates were in any way, shape or form worth emulating.”

Actually, mostly not true. As we learned in the recent Wydah exhibit, pirates were quite a democratic and diverse society. Everyone was considered equal (including blacks and American natives), valued for their skills and hard work only, voluntarily signed up via contract, and received an equal share of the booty, going so far as to break up coins and jewelry in order to distribute it evenly. The captain was only senior during battle. They were also quite generous to captured crews.

They come out especially good when compared to the British Navy, where shanghai was common and conditions were barbaric. The ‘blood and barbarity’ was really just part of the times and not just the pervue of the pirates.

Why do you people go out of your way to do this? If people can’t get the joke (on talk like a pirate day), that’s their problem.

lorien1973 on September 19, 2011 at 7:41 PM

What freekin’ “joke”?

Osama Obama, the SCoaMF, exhibits many of the traits traditionally associated with pirates. He is amoral, greedy, ruthless and willing to steal from anyone who crosses his path.

Granted, pirates of old may have been more clever than the Traitor-in-Chief, more willing to engage in the hard labor that accompanied their thieving and probably far more trustworthy and likable in person, but I’d rate the Chicago Jesus more like to those old-time marauders of the sea than a patriotic, law-abiding American citizen.

In other words, I think it’s time for even Hot Air to admit that this man is no longer a joke, and that his foibles and felonies are no longer “funny” as Ed and the gang try to make some out to be.

ALPHA PIRATE: Main man.
BEAUTIFUL PIRATE CAPTAIN: Davy Jones’ looker.
CANNONADES: Powder and shot.
COLD-BLOODED PIRATE: Long John Shiver.
CROSS A NATIVE AMERICAN WITH A PIRATE: Get an Eye-patchy. (Based on a Q&A from http://www.piratejokes.net/jokes/oneliners?pg=14)

Sorry, Tina. SOME of his proposals may not be violent and Some may not be illegal, but there are quite a few of his ACTIONS are both violent AND illegal.

Gunwalker, Gangwalker and the ‘Arab Spring’ immediately come to mind. The way he gives ‘stimulus money’ to unions and Dems and condones violence from the same. Just because there is no one with the guts to do anything about it, doesn’t mean that what the Bamster is doing isn’t illegal.

All the pirate booty taken in history doesn’t come close to what Obama is planning on taking with his “jobs bill.” And yes, Obama isn’t violent but then again most pirates weren’t either (if they could help it). That is, if their victims didn’t fight back they usually wheren’t harmed. Harming your victims was a bad business model in the piracy game because the next ship robbed might decide it had nothing to lose and fight. Fighting, even winning, ment taking casualties and they were in it for the loot, not the fight.

I can understand wanting to maintain an air of professionalism and the desire to distance yourself from the “extremes” of the right side of the political spectrum, Tina, but damn, girl! All that convoluted verbiage just says “I’m scared”. You may think you’re walking on eggshells, but remember whose eggshells they are. Stomp on em!